Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 145 Recommendation
There was an unwritten rule in the Song Dynasty that after passing the imperial examination and serving as an official, one could return to Beijing to take the imperial examination. If one passed the examination, one could enter the imperial court and take up a position.

Entering the imperial court meant becoming the emperor's close minister and think tank, and having more opportunities to come into contact with the emperor. If the emperor needed someone, he would want someone to draft imperial edicts.

Often, these people are used and promoted first, which leads to the situation that if an official can enter the imperial court to serve, he is basically half a step away from becoming a prime minister.

Therefore, many people who passed the imperial examination naturally cherished the opportunity to work in the imperial court.

Originally, Wang Anshi had no interest in it.

But now that he had seen some new developments in the court, and thought that these new developments might have been brought about by an eight-year-old child, he suddenly became a little interested in it again.

No! Exactly!

He didn't want to work in the government.

He just hoped to join the team of His Royal Highness Prince Yu.

"Speaking of which... Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi had previously dismissed nearly 20% of redundant officials in various regions."

Zeng Gong replied: "That's right. Only Lord Fan and Lord Han dare to do so!"

"You said... could it be the work of His Royal Highness Prince Yu?"

Zeng Gong also became puzzled and said, "Isn't it possible?"

But Wang Anshi felt that this had nothing to do with Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi.

"I want to meet His Royal Highness Prince Yu. Do you have any connections?"

Zeng Gong thought to himself: "You've asked the right person!"

Although he couldn't even pass the imperial examination...

But at least, when Bachelor Ouyang invited others to a banquet, he would also invite him.

Immediately afterwards...

Zeng Gong found some time to visit Ouyang Xiu and explained the situation to him.

Ouyang Xiu was a principled man after all.

So he said to Zeng Gong, "Your Highness the Prince of Yu is not someone you can meet whenever you want. Besides, your Highness the Prince of Yu is very busy. He has to attend court in the morning, take a nap at noon, and go to the military camp in the afternoon. He rarely has time to meet others."

"What's the situation with your friend?"

Zeng Gong also replied: "Don't worry, Mr. Ouyang, the other party is a serious person. He is just a little curious about His Royal Highness Prince Yu."

Ouyang Xiu also said: "Why is there any curiosity about this? I know! Eight years old! It is indeed a bit amazing. But His Royal Highness Prince Yu is not a rare animal in Yujing Garden, so what is there to be curious about."

Zeng Gong saw that things had come to this, so he asked, "What do you think of His Royal Highness Prince Yu?"

Ouyang Xiu covered the tea bowl, thought for a moment, and said, "I don't know what to say. Anyway... as soon as you speak, he scolds you!"

Zeng Gong: "..."

Ouyang Xiu looked at Zeng Gong's own essay and said, "Let's not talk about Wang Anshi first. You have to work hard for next year's imperial examination!"

Zeng Gong then asked: "By the way, who proposed this important policy?"

Ouyang Xiu said, "I don't know either. Anyway, His Royal Highness Prince Yu said so in the hall, and then did it. He said it was in accordance with the emperor's wishes."

Zeng Gong then asked: "Then it is the government that needs reform?"

Ouyang Xiu found it hard to say.

Anyway...

This reform will definitely be beneficial to Zeng Gong, that's all.

……

Considering that the prince cannot have any deep contact with his ministers.

Therefore, next, Ouyang Xiu had to go through the formal process with Zhao Xin. Let's use the recommendation method to let the two meet.

Zhao Xin heard that there was a man named Wang Anshi who wrote quite well.

He also said: "Wang Anshi? This name seems familiar."

Ouyang Xiu asked, "Your Highness Prince Yu, have you ever heard of the other party's name?"

Zhao Xin then said, "Hmm... I think so? So... does this person have any talent for governing the world?"

Ouyang Xiu said: "He seems to have his own views on reform. Here is the article he wrote!"

Zhao Xin took a look and concluded that it was nothing more than the current civil service system that was not good and needed to be reformed, and the system of favoritism was not good and needed to be reformed.

He also said that in the future he would use generous salaries to support officials, etc.

After reading it, Zhao Xin was also surprised and said, "Why don't you just submit it to my father directly? Why are you asking me for help?"

Ouyang Xiu also replied: "Maybe he knows who is the one who can make the final decision?"

Zhao Xin took down the article that was enough to cover her face and asked, "Is it that obvious?"

Ouyang Xiu was just saying it casually.

However, it can be seen from the fact that Zhao Xin demoted Wang Gongchen directly to Lingnan.

Zhao Xin does have that ability.

Anyone who tries to stop Zhao Xin from doing things will not have any good results.

Speaking of which...

Wang Gongchen has been in Lingnan for almost two years. Should we call him back, or... let him stay for two more years to let him reflect on himself?

Zhao Xin then asked Ouyang Xiu: "What do people outside think of me?"

Ouyang Xiu thought about it, then said, "It's hard to say."

Zhao Xin asked, "Why is it hard to say? Is it because I have a bad reputation?"

Ouyang Xiu: "Not really, it's just that Your Highness Prince Yu rarely shows up among scholars, and they rarely have the opportunity to see you. Even if they want to evaluate Your Highness Prince Yu, the evaluation will definitely not be objective."

Seeing that he was beating around the bush, Zhao Xin said, "Just speak directly. Don't beat around the bush!"

Ouyang Xiu said, "Perhaps the emperor dotes on His Royal Highness Prince Yu too much. Anyway, no matter what His Royal Highness Prince Yu wants, the emperor will give it to him. But the good thing is that His Royal Highness Prince Yu has not done anything bad, so the people outside are just listening casually."

"Some people suspect that you are taking revenge for personal gain in the incident involving Wang Gongchen."

"But it's not bad. You explained later that you wanted Wang Gongchen to manage the Quanzhou Maritime Customs."

"As for the reform of the imperial examination, the scholars are a little bit complaining, but it's not so bad. At least the scholars know the types of questions in the examination paper and how the examination will proceed in advance."

"So... your general feeling about His Royal Highness Prince Yu is that he is probably similar to the crown princes of the Han and Tang dynasties, right?"

Zhao Xin asked: "What do you mean?"

Ouyang Xiu: "It means that you can rule the country yourself, and then there are some doubts about your ability at the age of eight. However, there are also many people who seem to support you."

Zhao Xin asked, "What do you mean?"

Ouyang Xiu said, "Your reform of the imperial examination system has increased the proportion of policy essays. Therefore, some people who originally supported that policy essays should account for a larger proportion of the examination are very supportive of your reform, Your Highness, Prince Yu, and think that this is the true way to select scholars."

Zhao Xin asked, "You don't have a big mouth and tell others everywhere. Your Highness Prince Yu is doing well, right?"

Ouyang Xiu's eyes were stern, and he replied: "I definitely didn't say that to anyone else."

Zhao Xin: “That’s good!”

However, after hearing what Ouyang Xiu said, Zhao Xin suddenly felt that there might be another fight after the exam.

(End of this chapter)